Fort Henry (site)

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February 6, 1862. Forts Donelson & Henry campaigns.

Union forces under U.S. Grant determine to capture Fort Henry on the Tennessee River at this point in preparation for an overland assault on Fort Donelson to the east near Dover, TN. While Grant lands roughly 15,000 troops on the east bank of the river to the north, Flag Office Andrew Foote bombards the fort with a force of ironclads and gunboats. Unknown to the Federals, Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman (CS) had already sent most of his garrison to Fort Donelson and was holding Henry only with about 100 men and 17 guns. In fact, the fort was partially flooded due to heavy rainfall over the previous weeks. After the naval bombardment of an hour or so, Tilghman runs up the white flag, surrendering about 80 men. Foote accepts the surrender of the fort while Grant's troops are still floundering about in the mud to the north.

In the 1930s, as part of a TVA project, the Tennessee River was dammed near this point to create Kentucky Lake. Fort Henry now lies submerged beneath the waters of the lake just offshore this point. Some remnants of its outer works can be seen on the dirt road leading to this site.